The battle over a GOP plan to redraw Nassau's legislative districts has headed to court, with Democrats asking a judge to block Monday's planned redistricting

MINEOLA - The battle over a GOP plan to redraw Nassau's legislative districts has headed to court, with Democrats asking a judge to block Monday's planned redistricting vote.

According to Democrats, the proposal would merge two districts in northeast Nassau, along with one on the South Shore, leaving Legislators Joseph Scannell (D-District 5) and David Denenberg (D-District 19) living in the same district and essentially forcing one of them out.

Republican Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt says the priority was creating fair and equal districts, not weakening the Democrats. Political analyst Larry Levy, of Hofstra University, says the Republicans are doing what any other party in power typically does: trying to protect their incumbents.